Craig and Tom have been friends since second grade, but that was five years ago and Craig is getting sick of Tom's out-of-bounds behavior. When Craig begins to realize that he may have more potential in school than he ever thought, he starts to distance himself from Tom, who is both the class clown and the school bully. But severing ties with an old friend is never easy, and a foolhardy incident in a local park pulls Craig back into Tom's orbit. Faced with the realities of Tom's home life, Craig must determine the limits of this volatile friendship.

VOYA - October 1, 2008

'Readers will identify with the tensions that come as one person outgrows another and the need to move on."

South Western Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group - September 1, 2008

"An intriguing coming of age story sure to be injoyed by readers as Craig faces his fears, admits his mistakes and discovers what it means to be a true friend."

Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium - September 1, 2008

"The main character in this book is funny and engaging, yet gives the reader insights into the isolation and confusion that often plagues adolescence...Recommended for Grade(s) 6, 7 [as part of the B.C. curriculum]."

Deakin Newsletter - June 1, 2008

"Gregory Walters has given us an interesting character study and a satisfying, even engaging, story."

Resource Links - April 1, 2008

"A very heart-warming tale that is not preachy or sugar coated."

CM Magazine - March 7, 2008

"Recommended."

Awards

Resource Links "The Year's Best" | 2008 | Commended

CCBC Best Books | 2009 | Commended

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Resources for Teachers:

Orca Book Publishers produces a number of tools and resources to help teachers, librarians, reading specialists and other education professionals enrich the teaching and learning experience. Please visit our Teacher Resources website to access and download materials.